Carpet installing apparatus



April 13, 1965 BlRD 3,178,155

CARPET INSTALLING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 15, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY April 13, 1965 R. BIRD CARPET INSTALLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 15, 1963 I NVEN TOR. 6M

BY (M ATTORNEY United States Fatent 0 CARHET ENSTAILLHNG APPARATEE Ruth Bird, 107 Vanderbilt Blvd Gaitdale, Filed Nov. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 323,989

7 laims. (l. 254-62) The present invention relates generally to improvements in carpet handling apparatus and it relates more particularly to an improved carpet stretching device which is employed in the installation of carpets to floors.

In order to properly install a carpet from wall to wall in a room, it is necessary to draw the carpet taut both longitudinally and transversely and, while so tautly drawn, to secure the carpet to the floor along the edges of the carpet and at the bases of the walls. Devices in common use employ slats which support upwardly inwardly directed prongs. These are afiixed to the floors along the walls so as to engage the side edges of the carpets. However, the drawing taut of the carpet attendant to its installation and measurement in a wall to wall fashion has long presented a difficult problem.

Many forms of carpet stretching devices have been suggested but these possess numerous drawbacks and disadvantages. These are usually large, bulky and heavy pieces of apparatus which are of a length at least equal to the maximum of the transverse and longitudinal dimensions of the room since the carpet stretcher is brought into engagement with the wall and an edge of the carpet remote from the wall. Moreover, by reason of the large size of these carpet stretchers they are difiicult to adjust, operate and employ, and hence highly time consuming to use, and are likewise difficult to package, store and transport and otherwise leave much to be desired. Qther forms of carpet stretchers have been proposed which engage spaced sections of the carpet and stretch the intermediate area. These latter carpet stretchers not only do not overcome the drawbacks of the first mentioned carpet stretchers but introduce further difiiculties as well.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved device for the handling and application of carpets to floors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for stretching a carpet attendant to its installation in a wall to wall fashion.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved carpet stretcher which may be employed with substantially all carpets independently of their size and shape.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved carpet stretcher which does not require any adjustment attendant to its use.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an improved carpet stretcher of the above nature characterized by its simplicity, versatility, ruggedness, compactness and ease and convenience of use as well as storage and transport.

In a sense the present invention contemplates the provision of a device for drawing a carpet toward a wall comprising an elongated coupling member, means including a vacuum cup for releasably connecting one end of said coupling member to said wall, a carpet gripping head, and longitudinally adjustable means connecting said carpet gripping head .to the other end of said coupling member.

According to a preferred form of the subject carpet stretching device, the coupling member is an elongated link pivoted to the vacuum cup memoer and inclined downwardly rearwardly therefrom. A strut is pivoted to the rear end of the link member and projects forwardly therefrom and has a longitudinal bore formed in the front end thereof. A rod extends rearwardly from the carpet gripping head and slidably registers with the strut ice bore. An elongated handle is pivoted to the carpet gripping head and extends rearwardly upwardly therefrom above the link, and a second link is pivoted at its ends to the handle member and strut between their ends to form a toggle linkage therewith which is actuated by the depression of the handle member.

The above and other objects of the present invention ill become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a carpet stretcher embodying the present invention and illustrated applied to a rug attendant to the drawing of the rug to base ofa wall;

FEGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the carpet stretcher in a collapsed condition;

FEGURE 3 is a front elevational view of the applied carpet stretcher in the position shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 4 is a View similar to FIGURE 3 showing the carpet stretcher in the carpet drawn position.

Referring now to the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reference numeral 14 generally designates the improved carpet stretching device employed in drawing a carpet C taut along a floor F toward a wall W. The wall W is provided with the conventional baseboard B. Elongated slats S are nailed or otherwise afiixed to the floors F along the bottoms of the baseboards B and carry longitudinally spaced prongs P directed upwardly from the slats S and inclined toward the base board B. The function of the carpet stretcher it? is to draw the carpet C taut and to a position where its border is engaged by the prongs P and overlies the slats S and its edge substantially abuts the baseboard B.

In order to releasably connect the carpet stretcher ll to the wall W to which the carpet C is to be stretched there is provided a vacuum cup anchoring device 11 which includes a body or cap member 12 preferably formed of metal and engaging and supporting a vacuum cup 1 iemher 33 formed of rubber or other suitable elastomeric material. The vacuum cup anchoring device may be of any suitable construction and operates in the conventional manner, being advantageously provided with any well known mechanism for selectively making and breaking the vacuum and respectively attaching and releasing the coupling member 11 to the surface of the wall W. However, any type of vacuum cup may be used.

l rojecting rearwardly from the end face of the cap member 12 is a pair of laterally spaced lugs 14. A main tension member or link 16 is inclined rearwardly downwardly from the anchoring device 11 and includes an upper section 17 the end of which extends between the lugs 14 and is pivoted thereto by a pin 18. The lower section of the link 16 is bifurcated to provide a pair of yoke defining elongated laterally spaced parallel legs 19.

A foot piece or pad 2% is swingably mounted to the lower end of the link 16 and includes a flat base plate 2?. having a longitudinally extending medial block 22 located on the top face thereof and integrally formed therewith to divide the base plate 21 into a pair of opposite laterally extending wings. Located in the block 22 is a longitudinal medial recess which extends to the front of the block 22 and the yoke legs 19 project into the recess 23 and are pivoted to the block 22 by a pin mounted between the walls of the block 22 bordering the recess 23.

Also swingably connected to the rear end of the main link 16 is a strut defining, longitudinally extending horizontal rod 26 the trailing end of which is sandwiched between the trailing ends of the yoke legs 19 and is pivoted thereto by the pin 24. A longitudinal axial bore 27 of circular transverse cross section is formed in the 3 forward part of the rod 26 and extends to the front end thereof.

In order to suitably engage the carpet C for the stretching operation, there is provided a carpet gripping head 28 which comprises a base plate 29 having a flat underface. Disposed along the base plate underface and suitably affixed thereto are a plurality of longitudinally and laterally spaced preferably pointed prongs 39 which are downwardly forwardly inclined. Mounted on the top face of the base plate 29 is a medially located prismatic block 32 having a vertical rear face 33 extending upwardly from the rear edge of the base plate 29. A rod 34 is affixed to the block 32 and projects medially and rearwardly from the block face 33 into sliding engagement with the rod bore 27.

A medially located longitudinally extending slot 36 is formed in the apex of the block 32. An elongated actuating handle defining rod 37 projects upwardly and rearwardly from the carpet gripping head 28 between and beyond the yoke defining legs 19. The lower end of the rod 37 is flattened as at 38 and registers with the slot 35. A pin 39 registering with a transverse bore in the block 32 passes across the slot 36 and engages the lower flattened end 38 of the rod 37' to effect the swingable connection thereof. The free end .of the rod 37 is provided with a suitably shaped hand grip 40.

A pair of laterally spaced parallel links 41 are connected between the rods 26 and 37. The upper ends of the links are pivotly connected to the rod 37 a short distance above the lower end thereof by a pin 42 registering with transversely aligned openings formed in the rod 37 and the upper ends of the links 41. The links 41 extend downwardly rearwardly from their upper ends and their lower ends are pivotally connected to the rod 26, at a point rearwardly of its leading end, by a pin 43 registering with transversely aligned openings formed in the rod 26 and the lower ends of the links 21. It should be noted that the links 21, the portions of the rods 26 and 37 forward of their pivoted connections with the links 41, and the slide rod 34, define a toggle linkage which is actuated by the depression of the free end of the handle member 37 to forwardly advance the carpet gripping head 28. A large mechanical advantage is achieved between the handle 37 and the carpet gripping head 28 which mechanical advantage increases with the depression of the handle 37 and the forward movement of the carpet gripping head 28.

Considering now the operation of the carpet stretching device described above, handle 37 is swung to its raised position and the vacuum cup anchoring member is attached to the wall W, in the well known manner, at a level which will position the carpet gripping head 2% a short distance .rearwardly of the edge of the carpet C to leave a small forward border. free. Downward pressure is then applied to the head 28 in any suitable manner such as by stepping on the base plate 29 or by pushing the handle 27 along its length to press the prongs 345 into the carpet C and effect a non-slipping forward engagement thereof. The pad 26 and the rear pivoted ends of the main link 16 and the rod 26 are maintained in position by pressing down on the pad 2%, for example, with the foot or knee of the operator. By then depressing the handle 37 the carpet gripping head 28 is advanced forwardly under great mechanical advantage through the toggle lir"- age, in the manner earlier described to pull the carpet C with it. When the edge of the carpet C reaches the base board B the border of the carpet overlies the prongs P and is pressed downwardly into gripping engagement therewith. Thereafter the pressure on the pad 20 is released, the handle 37 raised and the head 28 disengaged and separated from the carpet C by the relative upward movement of the carpet gripping head 23. The vacuum in the vacuum cup anchoring head 11 is then broken and the anchoring head detached from the wall W. The above sequence may be repeated for successive areas of the 3'1 and the head 23 likewise increases through the toggle linkage so that there is no increase necessary in the force applied to the hande 3'7, which required force may in fact sharply decrease.

While there has been described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A carpet stretching device comprising a vacuum cup wall engaging member, a rearwardly downwardly inclined link having a forward end pivotally connected to said vacuum cup member and a rear end, a longitudinally extending horizontal strut pivotally connected to said link rear end and directed forwardly therefrom, a carpet gripping head mounted on said strut and horizontally longitudinally movable relative thereto, and means for applying a forwardly directed longitudinal force to said carpet gripping head.

2. A carpet stretching device comprising a vacuum cup wall engaging member, a rearwardly downwardly inclined link having a forward end pivotally connected to said vacuum cup member and a rear end, a longitudinally extending horizontal strut pivotally connected at its trailing end to said link rear end and directed forwardly therefrom, a carpet gripping head, and a hand actuated toggle linkage connecting said carpet gripping head to said strut leading section for longitudinally horizontally moving said head relative to said strut.

3. A carpet stretching device comprising a vacuum cup wall engaging member, a rearwardly downwardly inclined link having a forward end pivotally connected to said vacuum cup member and a rear end, a strut pivotally connected at its trailing end to said link rear end and directed horizontally forwardly therefrom, a carpet gripping head mounted on said strut and horizontally longitudinally movable relative thereto, means for applying a forwardly directed longitudinal force to said carpet gripping head, and a pad member connected to said strut rear end.

4. A carpet stretching device comprising a vacuum cup wall engaging member, a rearwardly downwardly inclined link having a forward end pivotally connected to said vacuum cup member and a rear end, a strut pivotally connected at its trailing end to said link rear end and directed longitudinally horizontally forwardly therefrom, a carpet gripping head mounted on and horizontally longitudinally movable relative to said strut, a rearwardly upwardly inclined elongated handle member pivotally connected at its forward end to said carpet gripping head and projecting above said link, and another link pivotally connected to said handle member and said strut at points between the ends thereof.

5. A carpet stretching device comprising a vacuum cup wall engaging member, a rearwardly downwardly inclined link havin a forward end pivotally connected to said vacuum cup member and a rear end, a strut pivotally connected at its trailing end to said link rear end and directed longitudinally horizontally forwardly therefrom, a carpet gripping head having a rearwardly directed elongated member longitudinally slidably engaging said strut, a rearwardly upwardly inclined elongated handle member pivotally connected at its forward end to said carpet gripping head and projecting above said link, and another link pivotally connected to said handle member and said strut at points between the ends thereof.

6. A carpet stretching device comprising a vacuum cup wall engaging member, a rearwardly downwardly inclined link having a forward end pivotally connected to said vacuum cup member and a rear end, a strut pivotally connected to said link rear end and directed forwardly therefrom and having a longitudinally extending bore formed therein and extending to the front thereof, a carpet gripping head having a rearwardly directed elongated member slidably registering with said strut bore, a rearwardly upwardly inclined elongated handle member pivotally connected at its forward end to said carpet gripping head and projecting above said link, and another link pivotally connected to said handle member and said strut at points between the ends thereof.

7. A carpet stretching device comprising a vacuum cup wall engaging member, a rearwardly downwardly inclined link having a forward end pivotally connected to said vacuum cup member and a rear end, a strut pivotally connected to said link rear end and directed forwardly therefrom a pad pivoted to said strut rear end having a pair of oppositely horizontally projecting lateral wings, a carpet gripping head having a rearwardly directed elongated member longitudinally slidably engaging said strut, a rearwardly upwardly inclined elongated handle member pivotally connected at its forward end to said carpet gripping head and projecting above said link, and another link pivotally connected to said handle member and said strut at points between the ends thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 242,960 6/81 Neff 254-63 564,317 7/96 Sommerfeld 254-63 639,718 12/99 Dexter 25462 716,904 12/02 Lawson 25463 736,873 8/03 Quilling 25462 2,918,282 12/59 Waterval 248363 X 2,987,098 6/61 Daniel 248206 3,001,762 9/61 Skolnick 25462 3,022,979 2/ 62 Dahlke 89 X 3,029,547 4/62 ROSS et a1 248206 X 3,082,988 3/63 Holden 243-206 WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiner. 

1. A CARPET STRETCHING DEVICE COMPRISING A VACUUM CUP WALL ENGAGING MEMBER, A REARWARDLY DOWNWARDLY INCLINED LINK HAVING A FORWARD END PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID VACUUM CUP MEMBER AND A REAR END, A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING HORIZONTAL STRUT PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID LINK REAR END AND DIRECTED FORWARDLY THEREFROM, A CARPET GRIPPING HEAD MOUNTED ON SAID STRUT AND HORIZONTALLY LONGITUDINALLY MOVABLE RELATIVE THERETO, AND MEANS FOR APPLY- 